The television series “Three’s Company” marked the beginning of Joyce DeWitt’s acting career.

She currently lives out of the public spotlight.

Following a conflict, DeWitt reconnected with her former co-star, Suzanne Somers.

Joyce DeWitt, a veteran performer, originally showed an interest in acting in high school when she began taking stage acting classes at the age of 13. On April 13, 1949, in Wheeling, West Virginia, young DeWitt was born to parents Paul and Norma DeWitt. Her father was not supportive of her ambition.

However, she eventually persuaded him to let her pursue a college degree in drama. DeWitt graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, with a bachelor’s degree in acting. The future Hollywood star later attended the University of California, Los Angeles, and earned a master’s degree.

DeWitt worked as a legal secretary after graduating and attended auditions in between. Months later, ABC gave her the option of choosing between two comedy pilots, but they expected a decision within 24 hours.

She quickly looked through both screenplays and chose the one about a man living with two women, “Three’s Company,” which ultimately won the People’s Choice Award. DeWitt made a wise choice because the other show never turned out.

“Three’s Company” was one of the most popular programs of the time, running for eight seasons from 1977 to 1984. It centered on three housemates in Santa Monica: two women and one male.

Because of their unique living conditions at the time, many misunderstandings provided fodder for humor. Throughout its run, the show consistently ranked in the top ten in the ratings.

Before joining the show, DeWitt had appeared in a “Barretta” episode and other plays, but she became well-known as Janet Wood.

She wore pants or tights during the session and refused to work with her legs exposed. This resulted in a disagreement between her and the producers. However, it yielded a positive outcome, as she went on to become the spokesperson for ‘L’eggs pants in the late 1970s.

DeWitt appeared in the series opposite Suzanne Somers (Chrissy Snow) and John Ritter (Jack Tripper). All of them claimed Jack was queer in order to keep the landlords away.

While Ritter was already a well-known television personality and Somers desired superstardom, DeWitt, despite pursuing a career in acting, needed to be more interested in recognition. Author Chris Mann revealed this in a March 2019 interview.

“Joyce was a theater performer. She was not prepared for the intrigues of Hollywood. I don’t think she was prepared for the PR machine, either, and she backed off after deciding to put herself out there.

DeWitt and Somers became friends but parted ways over a wage issue. Somers had requested a raise from $30,000 per episode to $150,000.

That strained her relationship with both DeWitt and Ritter. While fighting her case with the producers, Somers and her husband, Alan Hamel, exposed Ritter’s pay, and she went public with her complaints about the show, which upset the Emmy Award winner.

DeWitt addressed the topic in 2009, stating that she and Somers never disagreed about the incidents that occurred during season five of the program. According to her, Somers sought to present her case to the public while casting herself and Ritter in a negative light.

DeWitt attempted to contact Somers through a variety of channels, but she never answered. Instead, she said DeWitt was the one who did not speak to her.

Despite the public controversy and her discomfort in the limelight, DeWitt’s acting career made her a billionaire. Aside from “Three’s Company,” she has had other film appearances throughout the years.

According to The Richest.com, the TV personality was allegedly worth $2 million in 2012. Previously, there were rumors that she had retired, but her appearances in numerous films over the years have proven this to be false.

DeWitt, who now has gray hair, has maintained a low-key demeanor in the face of public scrutiny. Although she is still active in the performing world, she works in theater rather than on film.

Since the conclusion of “Three’s Company,” the comic has had few TV or film roles. She has been on television series such as “Cybill” and “Hope Island,” among others, for over a decade.

However, DeWitt has mostly performed on stage around the country. In 2020, she was featured in the musical “Scattered, Smothered, and Covered Holiday.”

Back in 2009, “The Ropers” alum detailed her plans after her tenure on “Three’s Company” and claimed she wanted to take a few months off from acting to relax:

“I observed Hollywood and the way it behaved, and it did not align with my moral code. If this is the nature of the game, I’m still determining my desire to participate.

She took a sabbatical to meet and study with spiritual masters from other countries. The celebrity expected it to take a few months, but the absence lasted just over 10 years. During her sabbatical, DeWitt explored the world and finally settled in New Mexico. Since then, she has gradually resumed acting.

Furthermore, she and her former co-star, Somers, hadn’t communicated in years since Somers left “Three’s Company” in 1981. The two women did, however, reconcile in February 2012, when DeWitt appeared as a guest on her online series, “Suzanne Somers: Breaking Through.”

Somers openly apologized to DeWitt, and the two reconciled. Somers excused her behavior at the time, stating she went on the program to make a career and support her child as a single parent:

“In a gathering of serious performers, I probably irritated everyone. And if I did, I sincerely apologize. I only needed the money at the moment.”

Somers gave birth to her only child, Bruce Jr., in November 1965, before the show began. The author has a son with her former spouse, Bruce Sr. Somers, whom she married from 1965 to 1968.

She married her second husband, Canadian entertainer Hamel, the same year “Three’s Company” premiered. Meanwhile, in 1977, Ritter married actress Nancy Morgan, and they had three children: Jason, Carly, and Tyler. They divorced in 1996, after 19 years of marriage.

Three years later, in 1999, Ritter walked down the aisle again with actress Amy Yasbeck, and they remained together until his death. The two portrayed love interests in two films, as well as on “The Cosby Show.”

When the program was on air, DeWitt dated actor Randolph Mantooth and was also romantically involved with Ray Buktenica. The couple had a committed relationship that lasted seven years. However, DeWitt called it quits and revealed why she and the actor didn’t work out during a 1980 interview:

“My self-esteem and confidence had vanished.” I handed them away. However, he believed I was spoiled and preferred to be attended to by hand and foot. I needed more time to clean the home, prepare supper, and wait for him.